Today in History (October 10th, 1992)
October 10th is also World Mental Health Day, which was established by the WHO in 1992. The day aims to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health.
Let’s Revise
A) What is one of the key features of the National Sports Policy 2024?
- Increasing the number of cricket matches
- Implementing physical literacy initiatives
- Reducing sports funding
- Limiting sports in educational institutions
Answer: 2)
Explanation: The NSP emphasizes the importance of physical literacy initiatives as a way to enhance sports participation and development.
B) Why is there a need for a new National Sports Policy?
- The previous policy was effective
- The last policy was issued in 2001 and is outdated
- To reduce government involvement in sports
- To promote only cricket as a sport
Answer: 2)
Explanation: The existing NSP from 2001 does not encompass the latest developments in sports and fails to address current challenges.
C) Which scheme aims to identify and nurture sports talent in children aged 8–12 years?
- Khelo India Scheme
- Target Olympic Podium Scheme
- National Sports Talent Search Scheme
- National Sports Education Board
Answer: 3)
Explanation: The NSTSS specifically focuses on identifying and nurturing young athletes in the specified age group.
D) What does the National Sports Education Board aim to achieve?
- Increase government control over sports
- Promote sports as a hobby
- Enhance the recognition and attractiveness of sports as a career
- Limit sports participation in schools
Answer: 3)
Explanation: The board is designed to make sports a more viable career option for individuals.
E) Which initiative was launched to create a robust sports ecosystem at the grassroots level?
- National Sports Talent Search Scheme
- Khelo India Scheme
- Target Olympic Podium Scheme
- National Sports Policy 2024
Answer: 2)
Explanation: The Khelo India Scheme focuses on developing sports at the grassroots level by providing financial support and identifying talent.
Summary of Today’s News
Fair Work India Ratings 2024
The “Fair Work India Ratings 2024: Labour Standards in the Platform Economy” report, released by the Fair Work India Team in collaboration with Oxford University, evaluates the working conditions of platform workers in India. This is the sixth annual study focused on this issue.
Key Points:
The report assesses 11 major platforms (e.g., Amazon Flex, Swiggy, Uber) based on five principles: Fair Pay, Fair Conditions, Fair Contracts, Fair Management, and Fair Representation.
Only Bigbasket and Urban Company received points for Fair Pay due to their minimum wage policies, while no platform met the criteria for ensuring a local living wage.
Despite increased worker collectivization, no platform demonstrated a willingness to recognize collective bodies like trade unions.
Gig Workers:
Gig work refers to temporary, non-standard employment often facilitated by digital platforms, connecting freelancers with clients for short-term services.
In 2020, 7.7 million workers were part of the gig economy, expected to grow to 23.5 million by 2029-30, with a mix of skill levels.
Reasons for Growth:
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated gig work as individuals sought flexible income sources.
Advances in technology and the internet enabled remote work, making gig positions appealing to both workers and small businesses.
Challenges:
Gig work can disrupt work-life balance and often lacks regular employee benefits like health insurance and paid leave.
Employers may prefer gig workers to reduce costs and minimize benefits provided to full-time staff.
Government Initiatives:
The Code of Social Security, 2020 aims to establish social security for gig workers, but its provisions are not yet active.
The e-Shram Portal, launched in 2021, allows gig workers to register and create a national database for unorganized workers.
Overall, the report highlights both the opportunities and challenges facing gig workers in India’s rapidly evolving platform economy.
